Diaper rinsing device



July 28, 1964 H. A. LEVENTHAL' 3,142,058

' DIAPER RINSING omen Filed Dec. 10. 1962 2 Shah-Shoot 1 INVENTOR HaroldA. Lovonthol I4 RNEY J ly 8, 1964 H. A. LEVENTI -IAL DIAPER RINSINGDEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 10, 1962 INVENTOR Harold A. LevenfholXi'TORNEY United States Patent 3,142,068 DLAPER RIYSING DEVICE Harold A.Leventhal, 435 W. 23rd St., New York, N.Y. Filed Dec. 10, 1962, Ser. No.243,467 6 Claims. (Cl. 4-1) This invention relates to a toilet accesorydevice which is particularly useful for rinsing out soiled diapers andis unique in the fact that it is cooperative with the commode or toiletseat, being permanently attached to the underside thereof.

The present invention is permanently attached to the seat of the toiletand it stays so attached as long as there is a need for its occasionaluse, i.e. so long as there are diaper-Wearing babies in the household.While so attached, none of the normal functions of the toilet areobstructed, and upon raising of the seat the invention is instantlyready for use.

It therefore is an object of the present invention to solve this problemby providing a simple device which may be easily and permanentlyconnected to the commode or toilet bowl seat.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device whichrelieves the parent of the unpleasant and unsanitary task of wringingout the rinsed diapers by hand.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a diaper wringerwhich may remain on the toilet seat when not in use and which will notobstruct or interfere with the toilets normal functions.

It is another object of this invention to provide an easily constructedwringer device which may be readily installed on the screws or boltssupporting the toilet seat and which, when installed, may be broughtinto an operative position for use in wringing out diapers and the likemerely by lifting the seat, but which, in either operative orinoperative positions, will not interfere with the normal usage of thetoilet.

Various other objects and advantages will appear from the followingdescription of several embodiments of the invention, and the novelfeatures will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection withthe appended claims.

Briefly, the present invention comprises a wringer device which ispermanently attached to the underside of the commode or toilet seat, bymeans of utilizing the'same bolts or screws used in attaching the toiletseat to the main body of the toilet. An added feature of the inventioncomprises the use vof a flap or cover substantially covering andprotecting the device of the invention when it is not in use. A betterunderstanding of the various embodiments of the invention will be gainedby referring to the following detailed descriptions thereof, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings and in which,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the hinging meansof the invention showing the same in both operative and inoperativepositions and with the flexible flap of FIG. 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the hinging means embodiment shown inFIGURE 1 and having a pivoted cover flap.

In the following description and in the appended claims, the rearportion of a toilet seat is intended to mean the portion nearest thewater closet; lower, beneath and top, when applied to the invention whenmounted, refer to the relative positions of parts when the seat israised, and other relative terms are to be construed from the point ofview of a person at the front of the toilet.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the toilet or commode, i.e.

the main body of the toilet, is indicated generally at 1,

3,142,068 Patented July 28, 1964 as having a seat 2 hingeably mountedthereon with hinges 3. The seat 2 is attached to the hinge 3 by means ofscrew or screws 4 (one shown). In the embodiment of the invention shownin FIGURE 1, the device of the invention is attached to the toilet seatby loosening screws 4 and sliding bracket 5 thereunder. Bracket 5 isrigidly attached to a flat plate of high-strength plastic or othernon-corrosive material 6 which lies flat against the bottom side of theseat 2, and which does not extend to the edges of the bottom of theseat. That is, the plate 6 is smaller in all dimensions than thatportion of the seat 2 under which it lies, so the entire invention isconcealed under the seat when the latter is down. A pair of arms orU-shaped bracket 7 is rigidly attached to plate 6. Bracket 7 containsholes and bearing means for the mounting of wringer rollers 8 and 9.Roller 8, Le. the one nearer the seat, is permanently mounted withinbracket 7, but roller 9 is mounted so as to be disengageable from itsnormally close proximity with roller 8 by means of slot 11 and key 12. Acrank 10 is provided on roller 9 for the purpose of operating the deviceor, at least, assisting the operator in starting a diaper through thewringer. A flap 13 made of rubber or similar material is permanentlyconnected to the bottom of bracket 7 and is sup plied with fasteningmeans such as snaps 14 which will coact with the snaps 15 mounted on thetop of bracket 7 adjacent plate 6, thus enabling cover 13 to be foldedup around the wringer device, thereby covering it and protecting thedevice of the invention when it is not in use for the rinsing of diapersand the like.

In operation, the diapers are rinsed in the toilet bowl in the usualmanner, and then fed in between rollers 8 and 9 while the crank 10 isturned. In the event that a diaper gets caught between one of therollers and the bracket 7 and binds therein, key 12 is slid out and theroller 9 disengaged by lifting it up through slot 11 thereby releasingthe said diaper caught therebetween. When the task is finished, flap 13is brought up and around the wringer device and snaps 14 engaged withsnaps 15.

The invention remains attached to the underside of the toilet seat. Whenthere is no further need to use the invention, it is easily and quicklyremoved from the toilet by loosening screws 4, sliding it out, and thentightening the screws.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG-7 URE 1, the plate6 need not be of the shape or configura-v tion shown, but may be of anyconvenient shape so long as it does not protrude beyond the edges ofseat 2 and provides sufficient mounting surface for brackets 5 andbracket 7, so that the unit may be rigidly attached to the under side ofthe seat 2 by screws 4.

In FIGURE 3 of the drawings there is illustrated in cross-sectional viewthe same hinging embodiment as is illustrated in FIGURE 1. The referencenumerals in-. dicate the same parts as were described with relation toFIGURE 1, and in this figure a diaper or similar article 20 is shownbetween rollers 8 and 9.

In FIGURE 2, an alternative hinging embodiment is illustrated, and thisembodiment is in many cases preferred both from the standpoint ofmanufacturing ease and of use. As in the embodiment illustrated in FIG-URE 1, the toilet bowl 1 has the seat 2 attached by hinge 3. A varietyof different hinges or hinge arrangements are employed, and for purposesof simplicity the illustra-, tions do not show the top which normallyfolds down over the seat, and is attached by means of the same hinge.These diiferences, however, make no difference in the installation ofthe invention, which is equally applicable to all commerciallymanufactured commodes or toilets. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGURE 2, bracket 5 (of FIG. 1) has three parts. The first part 19 isrigidly attached to the mounting plate 6 as before. A hinge 18 isconnected to the piece B, said hinge cooperating with mounting bracket17 which is installed underneath the bottom portion of hinge 3 aroundbolt or screw 16. In this embodiment, the mounting plate 6 has thegeneral configuration of the underside of the toilet seat 2 or a portionthereof, although it is substantially narrower and when in the loweredposition, the seat 2 overhangs the plate 6 throughout its periphery.

Installation of this embodiment of the invention is accomplished byloosening screws or bolts 16, which are the bolts holding the entireseat and top assembly to the main body of the toilet 1. After looseningbolts 16, brackets 17 are slid under hinge 3 and the bolts once againare tightened. The invention is thus hingeably supported, and while notmounted rigidly to the toilet seat, it is mounted by means of the samescrews or bolts 16 supporting seat 2. The solid lines in FIGURE 2illustrate the position of the invention when the seat 2 is lowered andthe invention is not in use. The dotted lines in FIG- URE 2 show theinvention when it is in the operative position. The seat is first raisedto its normal upper position while the Wringer assembly and mountingplate 6 are still resting on the rim of the toilet bowl. Mounting plate6, which may extend around the entire periphery of the top of thecommode may be advantageously made to substantially conform with theconfiguration of the rim of the bowl when it is in this position. Thus,with the seat raised, the toilet may fulfill its normal functionswithout raising mounting plate 6. When it is desired to use theinvention, mounting plate 6 is also raised in the same manner as the topbut turns about its own hinge 18 and rests against the top, as shown bythe dotted lines in FIG- URE 2. In this position, the flap 13 is loweredand operation is carried out as described hereinabove with relation toFIGURE 1.

While the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2 has all of the advantagesof the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, in terms of permanentmounting, ease of use, and that of being completely out of the way andunnoticeable when not in use, the embodiment of FIGURE 2 has theadditional advantage in that substantially all of the presentlymanufactured toilet bowls the bolts 16 are a standard distance apart,and thus one type of mounting plate 6 and hinge assembly 17, 18, 19 maybe employed for essentially all toilets, whereas the screws 4, asillustrated in FIGURE 1, vary in their placing on the several differentbrands of the commercially manufactured toilet seats. Thus theembodiment shown in FIGURE 2 offers certain economies in terms ofmanufacturing simplicity.

While for simplicity of discussion mounting plate 6 and bracket 7 havebeen described as separate parts of the invention; as manufactured,these two pieces are advantageously one injection-molded piece ofhigh-strength plastic. Thus, bracket 7 would have as a full equivalent apair of arms performing the same function. Assembly of the invention isthen accomplished merely by attaching brackets or hinge assembly 17, 13,19, rollers 8 and 9 and crank 10 to this single molding. In theembodiment shown in FIGURE 1, it is also possible to manufacture plate6, bracket 7 and brackets 5 as a one-piece unit assembly. It is also tobe understood that while seat 2 has been shown as being made of wood,most presently manufactured seats are also made of plastic. The flap 13is generally manufactured of natural or synthetic rubber, or anysuitable non-corrodible plastic material. As is obvious, all parts ofthe invention which are necessarily metallic should be manufactured of anon-corrodible metal such as aluminum, brass or the like, or of steelplated or covered with a non-corrodible material. Wringer rollers 8 and9, while generally made of a natural or synthetic rubber, or having acovering thereof over a solid core, may also be made of other suitablesynthetic materials; obviously use of a material having some resiliencyis to be preferred.

While the slot and key arrangement for removing roller 9 (FIGURE 1) havebeen illustrated for purposes of simplicity, other alternativearrangements will be clear to those skilled in the art.

As is well known, most modern commodes have a swirl type of flushingaction, the jets being located at the rear of the bowl. When a diaper isbeing rinsed, it tends to follow the swirl, cling against the side ofthe bowl, and impede the flushing process. When flap 13 is lowered,however, it acts as a guard for the jets, the diapers are kept away fromthem, and both rinsing and flushing are made more efficient. In someinstallations of the invention, however, flap 13 is not necessary, dueto a different type of flushing action and/ or the fact that theWringer, when in the operative position, hangs sufficiently far over thebowl to insure that all water squeezed from the diaper falls back intothe bowl. In this event it is convenient to provide, rather than flap13, a simple cover 21 (FIG. 3) hinged either to bracket 7 or plate 6,which cover will hang in front of the wringers when the seat is down andmay be folded up when the seat is up and use of the apparatus isdesired. The cover 21 may be made of the same materials as plate 6.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials,steps and arrangements of parts which have been herein described andillustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be madeby those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described the subject matter of my invention, what it isdesired to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. As a toilet accessory, the combination comprising,

Wringer means comprising two parallel rollers in close proximity;

Wringer-mounting arms supporting said rollers so that said rollers mayrotate about their respective axes;

a plate having said Wringer-mounting arms integrally attached thereto;and

a pair of brackets attached at and extending from the lower edge of saidplate, said brackets being spaced from each other and adapted forattachment beneath one end of each of the hinges to which the seat ofsaid toilet is attached, and said plate, arms and wringer means beingentirely covered by said seat when so attached and said seat is lowered.

2. The toilet accessory as claimed in claim 1, and additionallycomprising a flap having one end permanently secured to saidWringer-mounting means beneath and behind said wringer means, andfastener means for securing the other end of said flap to the top ofsaid arms adjacent to said plate, whereby said flap may hang below andbehind said Wringer means during operation thereof and may be fastenedaround said Wringer means at other times.

3. The toilet accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein said brackets areadapted to be secured to the underside of said seat by attachment to thehinges at the point where said seat is attached to said hinges, wherebysaid Wringer means is raised to an operative position when said seat israised, and said brackets and said plate comprise a one-piece unitassembly.

4. The toilet accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein said brackets areadapted to be secured under said seat by attachment to the hinges at thepoint where said hinges are attached to the body of said toilet, andfurther comprising hinges in each of said brackets whereby said Wringerand mounting means may be raised to an operative position after saidseat is raised.

5. The toilet accessory as claimed in claim 1, and additionallycomprising hinged cover means mounted above and behind said Wringermeans when said seat is raised, whereby said cover hangs in front ofsaid Wringer means when said seat is lowered, and said cover may beraised away from said Wringer means when said seat is raised.

6. As a toilet accessory, the combination comprising,

two parallel, resilient roller-wringers when said seat is raised inclose proximity;

a one-piece mounting assembly comprising two arm portions supportingsaid roller-wringers so that they may rotate about their respective axesand a plate portion to which said arm portions are integrally attached;

a cover hingeably attached to said mounting assembly,

the hinges being above and behind said roller-wring- 10 ers when saidseat is raised; and

a pair of hinged brackets attached at and extending from the lower edgeof the plate portion of said mounting assembly, said brackets beingadapted for attachment under the seat of said toilet between the 15 bodyof said toilet and the securing means holding said seat, and saidroller-wringers, mounting assembly and cover being entirely covered bysaid seat when so attached and said seat is lowered.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS609,870 Biggs Aug. 30, 1898 838,166 Burrows Dec. 11, 1906 1,189,012Steel June 27, 1916 2,677,951 Haines et a1 May 11, 1954 2,756,580Castner July 31, 1956 2,808,716 Zum Brunnen Oct. 8, 1957 2,814,191Grinyer et a1 Nov. 26, 1957

1. AS A TOILET ACCESSORY, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING, WRINGER MEANSCOMPRISING TWO PARALLEL ROLLERS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY; WRINGER-MOUNTINGARMS SUPPORTING SAID ROLLERS SO THAT SAID ROLLERS MAY ROTATE ABOUT THEIRRESPECTIVE AXES; A PLATE HAVING SAID WRINGER-MOUNTING ARMS INTEGRALLYATTACHED THERETO; AND A PAIR OF BRACKETS ATTACHED AT AND EXTENDING FROMTHE LOWER EDGE OF SAID PLATE, SAID BRACKETS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHERAND ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT BENEATH ONE END OF EACH OF THE HINGES TOWHICH THE SEAT OF SAID TOILET IS ATTACHED, AND SAID PLATE, ARMS ANDWRINGER MEANS BEING ENTIRELY COVERED BY SAID SEAT WHEN SO ATTACHED ANDSAID SEAT IS LOWERED.